23 April 2014

Ceres FC names pool of players for AFC President’s Cup qualifiers

Ceres – La Salle Football Club that is up against the toughest teams in the Group Stage, presented yesterday the 30-man pool of players from which the final lineup for the May 6 to 10 AFC President’s Cup Group B Qualifiers will be drawn.

But with the AFC rules of having only two foreign players in the lineup, Ceres FC head coach Ali Bernardo Go said they will be relying on the locals to carry the banner of the country in the qualifiers.

More than the once in a lifetime experience of playing in the AFC President’s Cup qualifiers and representing the country, coach Go said Ceres FC will be out earn the respect of the international football clubs.

The mission will not be easy as the team needs to get past North Korea on May 6, a team that had an impressive showing at the FIFA World Cup and for the President’s Cup qualifiers will be bringing at least six players with World Cup experience.

Their second assignment will be against Chinese Taipei on May 8, an equally formidable squad that placed third in the 2010 edition of the President’s Cup. Ceres FC will wrap up their campaign on May 10 against defending champion Turkmenistan.

Despite the daunting task, Go said they are optimistic and his players are ready to give their best as in every football game, they have the 50-50 chance of winning.

“As long as we have the mindset of winning, we have a good fighting chance. Even the best team in football can lose,” Go said.

Meanwhile, Ceres FC administrator and President’s Cup local organizing committee chairman Nicolas Golez called on the Negrense community to come out and support the home team on May 6 to 10.

Golez said renovations are being done at the 16-year-old Panaad Stadium and they have installed at least 200 VIP seats as part of the AFC requirements for hosting the international match.

He said the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the city governor of Bacolod are extending their full support to the organizing committee to make the tournament a success.*NAB